2009- Michigan Governor Jennifer M . Granholm's Agenda

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm was elected as 2009 MGA chair. Granholm's chair's agenda, Creating Jobs in the New Energy Economy, focused on attracting new jobs to the Midwest and implementing the proper workforce development tools to make the new energy economy a sustainable industry for the future.

Granholm's agenda built on several key strengths of the region: a burgeoning biofuels industry; a manufacturing core that can produce renewable energy infrastructure such as wind turbines and solar panels; vast coal reserves that can be used in advanced coal power plants; and significant underground storage potential for carbon captured from factories and power plants. The Midwest also has thousands of skilled workers that are poised to begin manufacturing products for the green economy.

The agenda was spearheaded by an advisory group comprised of regional economic development, investment and workforce leaders from the private and public sectors. The advisory group drew on the workforce development efforts already under way in Midwestern states. The group also assessed the skills and training needed to put people to work in the green economy, and developed specific recommendations for governors to consider to help transition the region to meet new energy demands and put people back to work.

For additional information on the Advisory Group and MGA's work on Granholm's agenda, please click here.